Lycium barbarum 'SWEET LITTLE BERRY' Chinese box thorn, Goji berry

Goji berry is a popular plant of Mongolian origin. It is renowned for its positive impact on health, especially for adults. There are many articles on the internet detailing its health aspects, let’s name just a few important ones: antioxidant, it cleanses blood and improves sight, it balances function of liver and kidneys, it improves lungs and respiration, etc.

It is a perennial shrub or a vine with long shoots that cannot vine around a support. Deciduous leaves are 3-6 cm long, elongated, fresh green to grey green. Some sources say they may contain toxins but it is not important since the edible part of this plant are its berries. They mature in late summer and are small, deep orange-red, elliptic and glossy. When fully ripe they fall to your hand as they are picked. Sweet Little Berry is a variety bred for its sweet taste lacking bitterness that was common for lycium growing in the wild. So it can be eaten also fresh as opposed to dried which was the only method how to get rid of its bitter taste.

Goji berry is best grown in free draining soil in full sun, it dislikes wet and boggy soils as well as humid yards with no air flow. Soil should be alkaline or neutral. It is easy to grow – it does not need any maintenance apart from occasional pruning that will keep the plant compact and dense. Fruit can be expected on 3-year-old plants. Hardy to about -34°C (USDA zone 4).

Last update: 13-02-2012